Guard at upscale Marina del Rey housing community slain in front of lobby

Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives searched for evidence and witnesses Monday morning after a man was found shot to death in front of the Marina del Rey apartment building where he worked as an unarmed patrol guard.

It was the first homicide in the tony waterfront community since July 2010, when an 81-year-old man shot his 90-year-old wife to death and then committed suicide on Palawan Way.

The guard, described by police only as a black man in his 40s, was found just before 3 a.m. lying between two Mercedes-Benz cars just outside the front lobby of the Shores apartment building, an upscale housing complex that includes 12 buildings on an 8.3-acre site overlooking the marina, at 4201 Via Marina.

Witnesses reported hearing two men arguing before gunshots rang out and a man was seen running from the scene, said Lt. Dave Dolson of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. One witness reportedly told investigators the gunman was as an African-American male wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt.

Coroner’s officials said the guard was 47 years old but did not release his name by Monday afternoon, pending notification of his family members.

Residents and the building’s owner described him as being very friendly.

“He was beloved by staff and residents,” said David O. Levine, a representative for Jerry B. Epstein, the developer of the new Shores housing complex. “This is a true tragedy. I don’t want to engage in speculation.”

Some residents told KTLA that the victim’s name was Patrick.

“Patrick was always there to greet us, and he was the nicest guy,” Elise Upperman, a resident at the Shores apartment complex, told the television station. “He always helped me lock up my bike.”

Many residents expressed surprised at the slaying because violent crime is so low in the affluent seaside community. But others said crime is more prevalent than is commonly believed.

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“This is a hot bed for car thefts,” said Carmen Torres, who lives next door to Shores. “I’m not surprised (at the murder). There are a lot of wealthy people out here that are a target for crime. People get robbed and we had a wave of stick-ups.”

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the sheriff’s detectives at 323-890-5500.